Tips for slot machines
Charles Fey, an auto mechanic, made the first mechanical slot machine that paid with the machine, in 1895. It was a five-cent machine with three reels and ten symbols on each reel. The symbols were playing card suits; diamonds hearts spades and clubs. The fifth symbol was the liberty bell. If three Liberty Bells lined up, the winner received ten coins. From then on, slot machines became an important part of clubs and casinos.
These slot machines remained popular until the late 1960s, when electronic devices appeared. In the mid-1980s, the microchip made big changes to the design, and from there, more complex games such as those with bonus rounds on the second screen were developed. The original purpose of the slot machine in casinos was to keep wives and girlfriends busy while the men played seriously. Today, the vast majority of casino revenue comes from slot machines with jackpot games coming in second. Slot machines are highly valued by the casino for their profitability. Little attention is required once the slot is on the floor, except for emptying the bill tray nightly and refilling the coins or ticket paper.
Casino guests love to play games and occasionally get lucky. Most don’t realize that there are ways to increase your luck when playing slot machines.
1. Inspect the casino area. You will often see busy ATMs and withdrawal stations in different areas. Check to see if most people are withdrawing or cashing in slot tickets. If they charge tickets, go to that area to gamble. If you play at a casino that still uses coins, listen for the sound of cash clinking in the tray. Often the highest payouts are in high traffic areas.
2. Check the denomination carefully before betting. There is a big difference between 5 cents and 5 dollars.
3. Take a look at the type of machine that hits the most often. Often times a newly introduced slot has a higher payout schedule and changes later once players love it.
4. Watch out for a black screen. Today casinos can change payouts remotely and it is legal in most states. The law requires that they must wait until four minutes have elapsed since the last coin played. A black screen appears informing players that changes have occurred. The machine does not accept coins for 4 minutes.
5. Check the payment. Today’s penny slots are now really dollar and a quarter slots. If you play all lines on a multi-line machine or play the maximum number of coins. See if the higher payment justifies the amount you insert. If not, instead of playing pennies, switch to dollars. Winning is less frequent but much bigger.
6. Read, read and read the paytables. Some machines do not increase the payout in multiples. For example, if you play certain slot machines and hit a big win with one coin, the amount might be 1/3 of three coins, or much less. If it doesn’t matter proportionally, how many coins you play, stick with one coin if you’re low on money.
7. Make sure to play maximum coins when necessary. Some machines pay for specific wins in the first coin, other types in the second, and each winning combination in the third, like Blazing 7’s. On machines that have multiple lines, play all the lines.
8. Look for machine banks that advertise higher ROIs. By law, each bank machine must pay out the advertised amount.
9. Always use your player card. The players card calculates the number of coins that are placed in the machines and offers gifts and cash back based on your play. You can get a free buffet from your game whether you win or lose. It’s either a bonus for the day or one of the most expensive meals you’ve ever eaten.
10. Take a break. If you’re in a losing streak, don’t chase your losses. Do something else and when you feel better, play again.
11. Do not play a slot machine that has credits or a chair that is tilted forward. Calls of the wild or the ATM can also and players leave their machines. Many drop a jacket, tilt their chair, or drop a few credits in the machine or coins in the pot to mark territory for their return. If a machine is flashing and no one is in the chair, that player has won a jackpot and is often playing another machine while waiting for an attendant. Don’t sit down unless you want a confrontation. Pay attention before you sit down.
12. Watch your money go in and out. Sometimes the bill taker spits out the money and it falls to the ground. If you don’t pay attention, you either lose the money or call an assistant for nothing. Don’t forget to charge. If you don’t want to charge a ticket for $.19, take it with you and pass it to the next machine.